Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay will today (Monday) propose that a “new era of local power” is needed in Scotland to fix public services and rejuvenate the economy.
In a speech in Glasgow, he will say that the Holyrood political establishment has let down the country and more powers should be shifted to local councils and communities.
Findlay will argue that decision-making is too centralised and it has left people feeling that politicians are “detached from reality”.
He will say change is necessary and propose giving councils and communities more power over budgets, increasing accountability and transparency, and reducing the size of the SNP state.
As examples of the disconnect between people and politicians, he will cite the SNP’s anti-business approach and their legislation including gender self-ID, hate crime and named persons.
He will also propose that the SNP should no longer be allowed to direct civil servants to work on breaking up the United Kingdom.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay will say: “What happens at Holyrood is often a waste of time and taxpayers’ money. It fixates on fringe issues that the majority don’t care about.
“Parliament seems detached from reality. A new era of local power is needed to bring about change.
“Decision-making in Scotland is too centralised. Power should be transferred from politicians to the people, where it belongs.
“The people running Scotland have run our economy and public services into the ground.
“The Scottish political establishment believes that taxes must only go up, benefits must keep rising, immigration is always good, free speech must be curtailed to avoid causing offence, and anyone can choose their gender regardless of the rights of others.
“Anyone with a bit of common sense can see that change is necessary.
“Communities deserve a direct say in how money is spent. Council budgets should be bigger. And they should no longer be ring-fenced by ministers in Edinburgh.
“We would stop SNP ministers from directing the civil service to agitate for the break-up of Britain.
“If the SNP wants to waste its time and ring-fenced donations on this folly, that’s their right. But it’s not their right to do so with taxpayers’ money.”